Arrival in Varanasi was just in time for the sunrise. We spend some time on the stone steps at the river observing the scenery. The Ganges or Ganga as the locals say is really not that appetizing and still people not only bath in it but drink it and wash their mouths as the Hindus believe that it has all purifying properties. In the 2 days we've been here now we've seen one dead cow floating in the water, the fairly desheveled remains of a human thorax and have been told that there are 5 exceptions to the rule that hindus [View Full Entry]

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Dear All, I just realised that I hadn't published the last blog. Sorry that you hadn't heard from us for so long. While in Amritsar we visited the Indo-Pak border. Every day at sunset a stadium full of people (from both nations!) turns up to scream at their neighbours!!! There is then a changing of the Guard (where they Goose step up to the border line itself, dangle their legs over the lin, but don't actually cross; it all culminates in a slow flag race, both trying to make sure that the others ensign doesn't ever stay higher than the others. [View Full Entry]

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We've come all the way up to Punjab (ca. 1000 km further north) to visist Amritsar. It is significantly colder here than it was in Rajasthan. Not freezing but not so lovely and summery as it has been. The temple in Amritsar is amazing and the people are very nice. We've spent hours just wondering around and enjoying the atmosphere. The Sikhs seem to practice what they preach: The town is fairly clean and people are very friendly. Women seem to be treated better here too. So this is just a short one. We hope your Christmas Prep is going well. [View Full Entry]

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CK: We get up at 5.45 to go on a 2 day camel trek. After much shopping around we've found a fairly comfortable deal, it seems. Together with a Canadian (joe) and 2 Germans (Claudia and Volker) we zoom in jeep out of town to get to the camel camp. It is still quite chilly and with the wind in the open jeep our thin jumpers are pathetic. When we get to the camp we are greatful for a hott cup of chai and a campfire the camel man has for us. 10 minutes later we watch with ahhs and Ohhs [View Full Entry]

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We've both been to India before (seperately about 11 years ago,) and so it's about time we gave our general view of the country. It's mad, manic and you constantly feel like you're under presure. That's not to say that we're not enjoying the whole thing. I will try to remain positive and not sound like an old fart, but it is terribly trying when you're in the middle of a conversation with your wife to be interrupted by someone you've never met before, will never meet again, and wants to sell you some tut. The opening gambit is always something [View Full Entry]

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We have arrived in Jodhpur now but we still need to tell you a few things about Udaipur: We've spent some really lovely and relaxing days there. My fears about finding India very stressful havn't materialised as such. We manage to take enough time out (i.e. sit in a garden or park) to cope with the geneneral madness here. In Udaipur there were quite a few artschools (many with a very commercial touch) but we really liked some of the modern art there and have purchased two oilpaintings (which involved a lot of going backwards and forwards to the gallery and [View Full Entry]

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We leave Pushkar to travel to Udaipur by "sleeper coach". The journey starts at 10pm arriving at 6am, so we book ourselves a sleeper ticket. Imagine a normal coach that you would travel with your school to the seaside at the end of year. Then put above your head a coffin with a sliding door that you can crawl into. There's a window so everyone can see in (so no nookie). We have a double bed, at the very rear of the bus. I'd prepared in advance by taking magnetic backgammon, and a miners strap on torch. We drive off and [View Full Entry]

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We have arrived in India and it is wonderful! We spent one night in Delhi, which wasn't as scary as I had thought. Got onto a train to Pushkar next mornig. That was amazing in itself. We booked the tickets at the airport and then next morning at 6 o'clock there were our names on the list outside of the carriage. During the 7 hour trainride we were served tea three times, omlett on toast, ornage juice and bottled water. The seat were really comfy and we had a nice chat with a family from Assam. Arriving in Ajmer (nearest trainstation [View Full Entry]

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Hello, we will meet on Sunday at the Viceroy in Burham for an indian Buffe-type lunch. It is 7.50 per person, all you can eat but I need number by Friday or Saturday. Start at 2.30 Later that day we will be going for drinks to the "Windmill" (next to the service station in Burham), so whoever would like to come there, we'd be happy to see you. We are still in frantic preparation mode. Hope you are all well. Terry and Claudi [View Full Entry]

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We are off to India in one week for our 6 months journey in Asia and Australasia and our to do list is as long as ever.... But we are getting really excited. And setting up a travel-blog was one of the things I really wanted to do. Let me know if you don't want to be on the subscriber list. And I am sorry to say but it will all be in English (more germans know english then vice versa). Bye for now Claudia and Terry [View Full Entry]

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